Brunker airs fears over conflict of interest laws

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker has questioned the workability of new conflict of interest laws governing councillors.

Councillor Brunker says the new, tougher laws were introduced last July and require elected members to declare an interest much more frequently than they had previously.

He says the laws have created a "ridiculous" situation where elected members are discouraged from getting involved in the community.

"We've had people resigning from tourism bodies and Enterprise Whitsundays, simply for the fact that if you're on those particular bodies you can't discuss anything to do with those," he said.

"In the old days, if you were a councillor on every community body in town, you're going to spend a lot of time out of the council chambers because the new Conflict of Interest Act says that you can't take part in it."

The Department of Local Government and Planning says the rules are made to protect the community's interests and safeguard councillors.

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